Hutchison powers Poquoson past Nottoway 27-6, into regional final

POQUOSON — — Aside from one play, Poquoson High was dominant in the first half of its Region I Division 3 football playoff game on Friday against visiting Nottoway. But that one play, a long touchdown pass, was enough to give Nottoway a six-point lead at intermission.

So Islanders running back Cody Hutchison dug into his memory for inspiration. He recalled the disappointment of losing by a point to Nottoway in the playoffs two years ago.

"At halftime, I remembered all of my senior friends and the (distraught) looks on their faces," Hutchison said. "That got me pumped up."

The pumped up Hutchison ran for 141 of his 214 yards in the second half, scoring twice and setting up a third touchdown. With points punctuating their dominance, the Islanders rolled to an easy 27-6 win over the Cougars.

The victory sends the Islanders (10-1) in the regional final for the third time in the past four seasons. They'll host James Monroe (9-2) – which beat Bruton 23-9 in the other semi – at 1:30 p.m. next Saturday at Poquoson Middle School.

While Hutchison sought inspiration from within at intermission, Islanders' coach Elliot Duty was totally calm in talking to his players. They had, after all, outgained the Cougars (8-3) 214-92 yards in the first half: the only blemish being Jonathan Coombs' 68-yard touchdown pass to Joe Whitaker midway through the second quarter that worked because Poquoson bit on the play-action.

"We had our heads down at halftime," said Poquoson defensive lineman Baxter Bristow, one of the stars of a unit that limited Nottoway to 73 yards on the other 37 plays. "Coach (Duty) said, 'It's 6-0 and they had one play.

"`Just step it up and turn it around.' "

Hutchison began the turn-around with a 55-yard touchdown run off tackle on the third play of the second half. Michael Lutz added the point-after and Poquoson led 7-6.

"The linemen opened up a huge hole," Hutchison said. "They did a great job all night."

Poquoson's defense followed by producing a three-and-out. The offensive line followed on the next play by opening another huge hole on Hutchison's 71-yard run off tackle, setting up Thomas Garris' 4-yard touchdown run that made it 14-6 with 4:12 to play in the third quarter.

"I didn't think we had them there, but we were getting momentum," Hutchison said.

Bristow solidified the momentum on the next play by forcing and recovering a fumble by Coombs at the Cougars' 11. Three plays later, Jay Diggs scored from the 1, giving Poquoson a 20-6 lead with 2:10 to play in the third quarter.

"That was big," Duty said of Bristow's fumble recovery. "Luckily we could commit our front seven to stopping the option and the counter. "Our defense carried our offense until they could get going. "

Poquoson cornerback Austin Smith set up the next touchdown by returning an interception, his sixth of the season, 16 yards to the Nottoway 11. Two plays later, Hutchison scored on a 9-yard run to book the Islanders passage into the regional final.

"It's been since the Grafton game that we've been in a tight game," Duty said of the 7-0 win over the Clippers in September. "It's a good learning experience for them.

"It's easy when the defense is playing lights out."

Hutchison liked the experience more than becoming one of those seniors whose disappointed expression the underclassmen remember.

"This is a great feeling," he said. "It's way better than going home and putting the pads on."